RismadarVoice Reporters
October 22, 2026
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral military cooperation and promote African-led solutions to terrorism, violent extremism and other regional security threats.
The meeting took place on Thursday, October 22, 2026, during the Nigerian Army chief’s official working visit to Rwanda.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, Shaibu conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Army to Kagame.
He also expressed appreciation to the Rwandan leader for receiving the Nigerian delegation and for the hospitality extended throughout the visit.
During the engagement, Shaibu commended Rwanda’s reconstruction and development following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, describing the country’s experience as an important example of institutional resilience, national unity and determined leadership.
The Army chief paid tribute to victims of the genocide and acknowledged the sacrifices of military personnel who contributed to efforts to end the killings.
He emphasised that leadership, discipline and cooperation among African countries remained essential to addressing the continent’s increasingly complex security challenges.
Beyond his meeting with Kagame, Shaibu held discussions with senior Rwandan defence officials, including the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Army Chief of Staff, Major General Vincent Nyakarundi.
The engagements focused on expanding professional military exchanges, specialised training, joint exercises and operational cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the Rwanda Defence Force.
Both countries also examined opportunities for greater collaboration in counterterrorism, military education, logistics and technical capacity development.
As part of the visit, Shaibu toured the Rwanda Engineering and Manufacturing Corporation (REMCO), where he assessed the country’s indigenous engineering and defence manufacturing capabilities.
He expressed interest in collaborative research, technology transfer and industrial partnerships aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s domestic defence production and equipment maintenance capacity.
The Army chief stressed that African countries needed to invest in local technological capabilities to reduce dependence on foreign military equipment and improve operational readiness.
He maintained that stronger partnerships between African armed forces would enhance their ability to respond to cross-border criminal activities, terrorism and emerging security threats.
The Nigerian Army said the engagements reflected its commitment to strengthening cooperation with regional partners through knowledge sharing, professional exchanges and coordinated defence initiatives.
Shaibu reaffirmed the Army’s readiness to work with Rwanda in developing practical security solutions, stressing that mutual trust and collective responsibility were essential to lasting peace and stability across Africa.
The visit forms part of wider efforts by Nigeria and Rwanda to deepen military relations and improve their capacity to respond to shared security challenges.
